RALEIGH — The Diocese of Raleigh has launched a series of listening sessions with teenagers and young adults, advancing a priority of Bishop Luis that first began to take shape during the diocesan Synod process several years ago.
Called “Sharing Your Story, Shaping the Future,” the initiative invites young people to speak honestly about their experiences of the Catholic Church and help shape how the diocese accompanies them in their lives of faith. The effort seeks to hear both from practicing Catholics and from those who are no longer active in the Church.
The project builds on the spirit of listening and dialogue that marked the diocesan synodal journey, which began in December 2021. That process invited people throughout the diocese, including those no longer affiliated with the Church, to share their experiences. The new initiative carries that commitment forward with a particular focus on youth and young adults.
“Jesus said, ‘Come and see.’ He didn’t invite people for a class; he invited people to be with him,” Bishop Luis said. “We need to welcome people, know them, know what is the experience in their lives.”
He explained that seeking to know people is a way of showing respect for them and for where they are in life. “Then we can accompany that person to grow and to ‘come and see,’” he added.
Coordinated by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Discipleship, the project calls for at least 12 in-person sessions across eastern North Carolina from fall 2026 through spring 2027. Sessions are planned throughout the diocese’s eight deaneries, or regional groupings of parishes, with additional gatherings in the larger Triangle-area deaneries.
Participants will include teenagers ages 16–18 and young adults ages 18- 35. Conversations will take place in community settings intended to help participants feel welcome and comfortable sharing openly. Rather than testing religious knowledge or debating responses, facilitators will listen and seek to understand young people’s experiences of belonging, relationships and their journeys of faith.
Feedback will be gathered without names or other identifying information other than basic demographics (age, gender, etc.). Findings will be shared with the bishop and Church leadership to help identify needs and guide the development of meaningful youth and young adult ministry.
An executive summary is expected in June 2027. The findings and a proposed ministry plan are scheduled for discussion at the January 2028 Presbyterate Assembly, a gathering of the diocese’s priests. The goal is to move from listening to action, working with youth and young adult leaders to strengthen the Church’s ministry with young people.
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